title: Impact of blend ratio on the co-firing of a commercial torrefied biomass and coal via analysis of oxidation kinetics.
abstract: Incorporation of torrefied biomass into coal-fired power plants could potentially lower the SOx and net CO2 emissions resulting from electricity generation. However, concerns over lower heating values and slightly higher ash content of torrefied biomass suggest that blending it with coal in industrial boilers may be preferable to complete fuel transition. By studying the oxidation kinetics of coal-torrefied biomass blends in a thermogravimetric analyzer at a heating rate of 100°C/min, we find an additive nature among the fuels for peak mass loss rates and enthalpies of combustion. The activation energy required to initiate decomposition decreases from 132.6 to 77.6 kJ/mol as the torrefied biomass increases from 0 to 100 wt%, with a sharp decrease between 0 and 40 wt%. Data suggest that incorporation of torrefied biomass into coal-fired boilers is dependent on the ability to sacrifice heating value for the lower emissions of SOx and net CO2 garnered using bio-coal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Materials Science & Engineering, Boston University, 15 St. Mary's St., Brookline, MA 02446, United States. Electronic address: JillianLGoldfarb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jillian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D003031:Coal
keywords: Co-combustion; Coal; Fuel blend; Oxidation kinetics; Torrefied biomass